Marco Antonio Campos, the founder and owner of La Casa de Toño, a popular Mexican restaurant chain known for its pozole, is exploring strategic options including a potential sale of the company. Sources indicate Campos is working with advisors to gauge interest from various parties, primarily private equity funds. The objective behind this consideration is to secure capital and expertise for significant further expansion of the brand.
La Casa de Toño began in 1978 as a small street food stall run by an 18-year-old Campos, who was also studying law at the time. It quickly grew by word-of-mouth thanks to its traditional cooking and affordable prices. The first formal restaurant opened in 1985. The chain now boasts over 60 locations across Mexico City and the State of Mexico, with a recent expansion into Toluca marking its first venture outside the Mexico Valley. The company has also experimented with new formats, including a self-service fast-food model at its Plaza Oriente branch.
Despite its growth, the restaurant chain has faced some challenges, including labor exploitation allegations in late 2023, which it has not formally addressed. Nonetheless, its consistent popularity, high traffic, and accessible price points make it an attractive prospect for investors looking to capitalize on the Mexican casual dining market. The potential sale could value the company at a substantial figure, although no specific financial details or valuation estimates have been publicly disclosed.
